The palace seemed to inhale.
For a fleeting moment, everything slowed.
The bustling servants paused to admire the final touches. The musicians straightened the cuffs of their uniforms before lifting polished instruments into position. The knights stationed at the grand entrance adjusted their armor until every silver plate reflected the golden light of the setting sun.
Outside the towering gates, the first royal carriage appeared.
Its wheels rolled over the cobblestone road with quiet dignity, followed by another... and another.
Within minutes, an endless procession stretched down the royal avenue.
Carriages adorned with gilded crests.
Mounted escorts in ceremonial armor.
Ladies draped in silks that shimmered beneath the evening sky.
Lords wearing medals earned through decades of service to the Crown.
The Royal Engagement Banquet had begun.
